Speeches

Madam President, colleagues, the far right continues to read their speaking points as if migration is the evil source of everything. I would actually want to know where your forefathers migrated from to where you live today, that would be very interesting, and then you could continue your narrative. But seriously, what planet do you live on? If you think that rape and gender-based violence increase due to migration, your racist worldview fits only in one place and that is in the garbage can. Let me tell you that your patriarchal ideology, that's what legitimised a violence culture, a rape culture even. Our daughters should be protected from your ideology. Gender-based violence exists, unfortunately, all through history, in all classes, offline, online, and we need to act. I'm proud to have been one of the two co-rapporteurs for the EU's first, and historical, directive on gender-based violence, but I also acknowledge that we need to do much more. We need to act. We need – at last – a consent-based rape legislation in place, because it's long overdue. No other crime would have been accepted in our societies as the violence against women and girls that exists in all our 27 Member States. So to the Commission, I just want to urge the Commission to please ensure that you, during this mandate, put forward, once again, a proposal for a rape legislation, because women and girls have had enough.

Madam President, we face serious challenges to our security and to our fundamental rights. Organised crime is a cancer that poisons our societies and robs our children of a safe and hopeful childhood. We must ensure that the European Union is fully equipped to both prevent and fight these threats. That is why the LIBE Committee has proposed to strengthen Europol, Eurojust and the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) with larger budget and more staff. Without the right resources, these institutions cannot deliver on the promises we make to our citizens. The EPPO plays a vital role in protecting the EU's financial interests, investigating and prosecuting crimes, like VAT fraud and corruption, that steal from us all. But today it remains chronically underfunded. That means crimes go unpunished and stolen funds remain unrecovered – this cannot continue. As we step up our efforts, we must never lose sight of our fundamental rights. Security and justice must always go hand in hand.

Mr President, I am asking for the floor in accordance with Rule 10(1), 10(2), 10(3) and 10(4). During the debate on Gaza, Patriot MEP Anders Vistisen was throwing out lies and accusations that I am an Hamas apologist. I have had enough! Demanding an end to the genocide is standing up for international law. Unlike him, I can actually condemn the Israeli far-right government's war crimes and Hamas war crimes. You know, you need to have two cells in your brain and make them function at the same time! If anything, he's making himself Hamas's and the Israeli far-right government's useful idiot. Mr President, slander is not a political opinion. Lies are not a political opinion. And his ways of debating don't even fit in a playground. I therefore call for action according to Rule 182.

Mr President, security isn't just another cost; it is to protect our societies, communities, our homes and our businesses from deep harm – from stopping crimes before they happen to fighting terrorism and safeguarding information. We need strong systems and strong police cooperation as organised criminal gangs operate across borders. Over 70 % of criminal gangs are active in at least three countries in parallel. And they are toxifying the lives of our children. Collaboration between EU Member States has never been more vital. The Commission's proposal to make Europol stronger is welcome, but it must be based on real needs, and the needs of the Member States. Coordination must be strengthened within the EU and it must also be strengthened with global partners. But with greater power must come greater responsibility. Intelligence-sharing must improve, yes – but always with strong safeguards. Expanded surveillance must protect rights, because in the end, one truth remains clear: security matters to ensure safety, but it must be done in a secure way.

Colleague, I have a simple question to you: what do you call it when the bombs are falling down on an area? When civilians are being been killed, when civilians are being slaughtered, what do you call it? Do you call it a ceasefire? Do you call it peace? Would you call it what it is: war?

Madam President, so much for a peace deal, so much for a ceasefire. The so-called peace deal, ceasefire plan or name it whatever you want is declared – but a few moments pass and the story rewinds once again. In the last two days alone, Israeli airstrikes have resumed, and – once more – innocent Palestinians are paying the price – victims of crimes. The Israeli far-right government has proven to not be a partner for anything right now; not for peace, not for ceasefire, nor for justice or anything else. How much more must Israel do before the European Union finally acts for real? There are no words left. Time and again, Israel commits war crimes and not even humanitarian aid is still let into Gaza. Do not let us fool ourselves! That's the reality right now while we continue to debate whether to suspend a mere fraction of our association agreement. Suspend the entire EU-Israeli Association Agreement, impose a full arms embargo, sanction the entire Israeli Government, recognise Palestine. The claim that Israel's war is against Hamas is still a lie. In reality, both Israel and Hamas are terrorising innocent Palestinians. Israel claims that innocent Palestinians are collaborating with Hamas, Hamas claims innocent Palestinians are collaborating with Israel. In reality, Israel and Hamas are each other's best friends. Leave innocent Palestinians alone. Let's talk about the West Bank; Hamas does not rule there, so why are Palestinians in the West Bank being punished simply for existing? Every settler in the West Bank and beyond lives in violation of international law. Sanction them all, not just the most violent ones. They live on stolen land – land stolen from the Palestinians. Those settlers who hold dual EU citizenship should lose the citizenship. Let's call violent settlers what they are – terrorists because they terrorise Palestinians every minute, every hour, every day, every week, every month and every year. My friend Abu Hassan was one of their victims. What those settlers tried to do as the Israeli military stood by and watched, is something no human being should ever have to endure. Do not misunderstand me – the initial step of releasing hostages on both sides was crucial, but much more must be done to put an end to the bloodshed that is continuing to take place right now.

Mr President, power is not license to abuse. It is a responsibility to uphold rules and fairness, something Google and its peers should have realised by now. Abuse can never be tolerated, not by anyone. Not by individuals, not by states, not by institutions, and certainly not by tech giants who refuse to take responsibility on their own. It always seems that accountability must be forced upon them, and that is a shame. Their creed is simple: money rules. It is capitalism in its worst form when trying to crush fair markets. For too long, Google's power in the ad market has crushed fair competition, it has bled local publishers dry, weakened investigative journalism and shaken the very core of editorial independence – the lifeblood of a free press. It violates the core of the European Media Freedom Act: transparency, diversity and independence in media. Finally, some courage: the Commission setting limits for one of the world's mightiest corporations, at last. This isn't just about markets, it's about the society we stand for. Digital markets must be built on trust and fairness, not act as if its platforms are the Wild West. When they fail, democracy must act. Let this be a turning point. Let it remind us that technology and platforms must serve democracy, not rule it.

Madam President, thank you very much. Ten years ago Gui Minhai lived in freedom. Ten years since he met his loved ones. Ten years since his voice – a voice for freedom of expression – was silenced by the Chinese brutal regime. Gui Minhai's only crime was to publish books and dare to tell things as they are. For that, he has spent a decade behind bars without a fair trial and without consular access. My thoughts go first and foremost to his daughter Angela, who for ten long years has fought for her father's freedom. Her courage reminds us that behind every political fall there is a family waiting, hoping and suffering. We reiterate our call for Gui Minhai's immediate and unconditional release and for China to release him. No man and no family should be compelled to endure such silence. Gui Minhai must be released now.

Madam President, no regime must ever succeed in silencing our voices when we speak out against its crimes and violations of international law and human rights, including those committed by the regime in Tehran. The reimposition of the UN sanctions on Iran is a direct response to Tehran's repeated breaches of its nuclear commitments under the 2015 agreement. The European Union must remain fully engaged, ensuring that the implementation of these sanctions is closely and effectively monitored. The situation in Iran has deteriorated further in recent years, despite the hope ignited by the Jina Revolution. The regime's repression of its people, especially women, remains severe. Minority communities, including Kurds, Baloch, Ahwazi, Baháʼís and others, continue to suffer systematic discrimination, compounded by a disturbing rise in executions that has disproportionately affected these groups. When is the EU going to label the IRGC as a terrorist organisation? We cannot and must not allow intimidation or setbacks to deter us from standing up for peace, justice and dignity.

Madam President, the European Union's partnership with Latin America has never been more important. As the international order undergoes profound change, our cooperation must become even stronger with like-minded countries – more strategic and more ambitious. I warmly welcome the many new political and economic agreements between our regions, but we must go further. Together, we face common threats: organised crime and drug trafficking that devastate families, endanger children and undermine the security of both our continents. The flow of illicit drugs from Latin America to Europe is not just a regional issue; it's a shared challenge that demands a united response. I call, therefore, on the Commission to deepen cooperation between our Latin American partners and EU agencies such as Europol, CEPOL, Eurojust and EUDA. Only by standing shoulder to shoulder can we protect our citizens and secure a safer future for Europe, for Latin America and for all.

Mr President, we must express our deepest solidarity with all those affected by the devastating earthquakes in Afghanistan, and especially with the brave Afghan women and men working tirelessly in relief efforts. But we have also seen how the cruel restrictions on Afghan women and girls have blocked life-saving aid to half of the population. Even before the earthquake, Afghanistan was already one of the worst places in the world to be a woman, a place where gender apartheid takes its most brutal form. It reminds us of The Handmaid's Tale, but this is no fiction. It is the daily reality for millions of Afghan women and women and girls living under a regime of fear and oppression. We must stand firm for the Afghan women and for women everywhere, especially during a time where we see attacks on women's rights in Afghanistan, but we also see different kind of attacks on women's rights here in our own Union. So, for all women and girls out there, we need to ensure that we the European Union, in all our efforts, ensure to support targeting women and girls, especially during a time of crisis, as right now in Afghanistan.

You and your colleagues in ECR are shamelessly blaming Greta Thunberg and migration for antisemitism, but I have a question for you. Have you discussed with your colleagues in the Sweden Democrats, why they support a government in Sweden that made an agreement with the antisemite and Hamas-loving Prime Minister of Somalia? They made a secret agreement wherein Somalia will take 28 Somalian refugees, and they will get SEK 100 million – EUR 10 million – as an exchange. A Hamas-loving, antisemite Prime Minister. How does the discussion go in ECR about your colleagues in the Sweden Democrats?

Madam President, antisemitism, along with other forms of racism and hatred, has become disturbingly normalised. So normalised, in fact, that it's no longer rare to hear such rhetorics within our democratic institutions. Yes, even in our Parliament. This is nothing short of a disgrace. The hateful language of the far right sows division among people and fuels violence. Shockingly, nearly one third of our Parliament is now held by those who carry the torch of hatred, an ideology that once cost the lives of many Jews. Many of these same political movements now use Islamophobia as a means to cleanse their own historical record. The wolf in shepherd's clothing may be hard to spot, but if we listen carefully, we can still recognise its voice. Antisemites and Islamophobes may not always be the same individuals, but they are time and again each other's closest friends. We must stand together and confront antisemitism and hatred in all its forms. Europe knows too well what happens when we remain silent and indifferent. Hatred always finds its way back and it poisons our society.

Madam President, I am at a loss for words to express my outrage at the passivity of the EU, to put an end to the genocide in Gaza, and to bring home the Israeli hostages. Two years have passed. Passivity is complicity. By refusing to suspend the EU‑Israeli Association Agreement and rejecting calls for a weapon embargo, the EU is choosing complicity over conscience. Now regarding the so‑called peace efforts, all peace efforts must be welcomed. But there is no genuine peace effort when those most affected are excluded. The extremist Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and his far right ministers have made it clear that they will not allow the Palestinian Authority to have a role in Gaza. True peace cannot be achieved by excluding the Palestinians, while Hamas must not be part of the governance in Gaza. The Palestinian Authority must be if the peace efforts are to be genuine and credible. Let us also remember the old saying, peace is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with conflict by peaceful means. The people of the West Bank understand this deeply. They try to pursue peace through non-violent means, even when an ethnic cleansing is unfolding before our eyes in the West Bank, with the Israeli military and settlers terrorising Palestinians day and night. The EU must take a stand for real peace resolution. That means ceasefire now. That means humanitarian aid into Gaza now. That means the immediate release of all hostages, both Israeli and Palestinian. That means an immediate end to the siege of Gaza. That means an end to the occupation of all Palestinian territories. That means recognition of Palestine. That means full respect for international law.

Madam President, thank you very much. Colleagues. Our open, democratic and free societies are being cyber-attacked time and time again. My country, Sweden, is no exception. In the last month alone, Stockholm, Gothenburg and Skåne have been affected. Over one hundred thousand employees in school, health and social care have had their personal data leaked. It is a direct attack on both people's privacy and our common security. We cannot be passive. We need to build resilience locally, nationally and Europe-wide. When Swedish and European authorities knocked out a pro-Russian cyber network this summer, we showed what cooperation can achieve. But that's not enough. Among other things, we need more resources for the European Cybercrime Centre within Europol. We need to strengthen the EU Agency for Cybersecurity. And above all, we need unified power. I would have liked the far right in this Parliament to take this debate seriously as well, instead of making itself a victim. The sacrificial cardigan is getting old.

Madam President, refusing to acknowledge a genocide doesn't make it less of a genocide. Refusing to call a starvation a starvation doesn't make it less of a starvation. Refusing to name an occupation an occupation doesn't make it less of an occupation. International law is not a matter of left and right – it's a matter of principle, but the reality is undeniable. For over a year in this European Parliament, there has been a right-wing majority that has refused to name atrocities for what they are and has been even less willing to act. You have the possibility now to show that you can spell 'humanity' through joining us in our demands for action, and to call a spade a spade. For how many more Palestinians must die before international law is enforced? How many more children must cease to see the daylight? Tell me how many! Freeze the EU-Israel Association Agreement, adopt an EU-wide weapon embargo, sanction the criminal government of Israel, implement ICC and ICJ decisions, recognise Palestine. Shame on this current silence. Shame on hypocrisy. Shame on the inactions. Shame, shame, shame.

Mr President, minorities keep being in danger in the new Syria. The recent terrorist attacks on the Mar Elias Church in Damascus and the ongoing massacres on Alawites are examples of heinous violence. Among the perpetrators are even commanders of the Minister of Defence of the new government. If we stay silent, this will be the future of all minorities in Syria. I welcome the European Council's decision to sanction those responsible, including Turkish‑backed SNA groups, but the EU must do more. Every single support given to the new government must be done with demands on a Syria that respects all its citizens and respects international law.

Mr President, the European Union must stand firm and unwavering in the face of threats and intimidation. While the United States remains a vital trade partner, as has been said by many other colleagues here, and they are also a key global actor, recent signals from the US under Trump have made it clear: America is no longer what it used to be. Therefore, the EU can't act as it used to act. As Europeans, we must be unequivocal. We will not accept trade agreements founded on blackmail or threats. The far right – both in the US and here in Europe – in our parliaments are eager to undermine our standards, to roll back protection of consumers, workers and our climate, all to serve oligarch interests. The EU must, however, negotiate from a position of strength, transparency and integrity. We owe it to our citizens to defend our values, to defend our model and to defend our future. We must stand united and resolute, because our strength lies in our unity and in our unwavering commitment to our principles.

Mr President, the European Union must stand firm and unwavering in the face of threats and intimidation. While the United States remains a vital trade partner, as has been said by many other colleagues here, and they are also a key global actor, recent signals from the US under Trump have made it clear: America is no longer what it used to be. Therefore, the EU can't act as it used to act. As Europeans, we must be unequivocal. We will not accept trade agreements founded on blackmail or threats. The far right – both in the US and here in Europe – in our parliaments are eager to undermine our standards, to roll back protection of consumers, workers and our climate, all to serve oligarch interests. The EU must, however, negotiate from a position of strength, transparency and integrity. We owe it to our citizens to defend our values, to defend our model and to defend our future. We must stand united and resolute, because our strength lies in our unity and in our unwavering commitment to our principles.

Madam President, the first Pride was a protest, and indeed, so was Budapest Pride. To the brave people of Hungary: you embody strength, you embody bravery! To all colleagues that joined and showed solidarity with the brave people of Hungary: thank you! I don't expect the ignorant far-right leaders to have joined Pride in Budapest. However, there was one pro-democratic group leader who was missing: Manfred Weber from the EPP. Where were you? Such a shame! But I'm not surprised. Across Europe, far-right movements threaten human rights and still, during these times, the EPP chooses to ally itself with the far right. To be silent on hate speech and to cooperate with those who seek to strip people of their rights is to be complicit in the violation of human rights. This was confirmed when I, together with up to 200 others, defied Orbán, and marched proudly for freedom and human rights in the biggest Budapest Pride ever. And to the far right, I also just want to say that there is no such a thing as gender ideology. It's called anti-discrimination – something that is missing from your vocabulary. Learn!

Madam President, the first Pride was a protest, and indeed, so was Budapest Pride. To the brave people of Hungary: you embody strength, you embody bravery! To all colleagues that joined and showed solidarity with the brave people of Hungary: thank you! I don't expect the ignorant far-right leaders to have joined Pride in Budapest. However, there was one pro-democratic group leader who was missing: Manfred Weber from the EPP. Where were you? Such a shame! But I'm not surprised. Across Europe, far-right movements threaten human rights and still, during these times, the EPP chooses to ally itself with the far right. To be silent on hate speech and to cooperate with those who seek to strip people of their rights is to be complicit in the violation of human rights. This was confirmed when I, together with up to 200 others, defied Orbán, and marched proudly for freedom and human rights in the biggest Budapest Pride ever. And to the far right, I also just want to say that there is no such a thing as gender ideology. It's called anti-discrimination – something that is missing from your vocabulary. Learn!

Madam President, what was it – one, two, three hours ago that Tomas Tobé, on behalf of the EPP, was talking about the victims of communism? The only difference between us is that we never make a difference between 'victims' and 'victims'. It should not be controversial to assert that killing, starving, mutilating and slaughtering children constitutes a clear violation of international law. That is what is happening right now in Gaza, what the far-right government of Israel is doing to the children of Gaza. Make no mistake, history will judge each person that refused to act to end the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Hate is not the opposite of peace, apathy is. Apathy equals complicity. Those who don't want to be complicit to the genocide on the Palestinian people must demand the suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement now.

Mr President, I want to start by saying to the far right here in our Parliament that free and independent media doesn't mean attacking them when it doesn't fit your ideology. Actually, your ideology is an ideology of hatred. We have laws in our Union to ensure you don't import 1930s Germany to 2025. So stop attacking our democracies and go back to the 1930s and stay there, where your ideology belongs. For us who believe in fully fledged democracies, we have a duty to defend free and independent media. We have a duty to strengthen them. It is every Member State's duty to implement the Media Freedom Act – not if, but when, and the time is now.

Mr President, time is running out. The Iranian regime is escalating its executions, leaving no one safe. Since 1 October 2024 over 1 000 individuals – comprising political prisoners, women, protesters and minority groups – have been executed in Iran. Despite his suffering a heart attack last month, the Iranian authorities have persistently refused to transfer Dr Ahmadreza Jalali to a hospital where he could receive the urgent, specialised medical care he needs. This neglect is inhuman and utterly cruel. Dr Jalali has endured over nine years in Evin prison. He was sentenced to death following a sham trial. As a Swedish and Iranian citizen – as a European citizen – his case demands our urgent attention. Sweden and European Union bear a responsibility to ensure his safe return to his wife Vida and their children. Free Ahmadreza Jalali now!